The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-12-30
smiled and looked up .. ner sa,,or srass.


fully.
..lndeed Il Is. and sorry and heart
breaking way Il has been for the
women. Not only In our family.
but in all the seamen's families il Il
true For thirty years I've known this
port, and Of all its sailors that have
die,l in that time not one ont Of four
has died In his bed. But the Lord
wills It, and may you be happy"
.sWhcn knew was to be master Of
the .Chevalier. said John Sturdy, Il
did not think I should quit her for ten
years at least. I'm n sailor, and love
the sea. with all its pcrils; but now, II
Thankful asks me to quit it for her. I'm
ready"
'.Indecd, then, do ask you.''
"But only at tho end Of this voyage.
Ny word has been given to the owners.
and can not break it. The time will
be short; let US live in hope Of It.
"Ah, this one last voyagcw sighed
Mrs. Benson rucfully. .'Pray God it
may fare better than that other last
voyage"
The "Chcvalier" sailed in March.
The parting was hard one; quite as
hard to the man as to the maid. It
need not be told why it was hard for
her to give her young loves dream to
the cruel chances of the sea; Of him it
must be said that, as love came late, it
came strong As well.
Don't 60, jack" she pleaded amid
her sobs. II know it's selfish, but I
can't help it. Don't leave me. shall
never see you again If you do"
Her distress, her unbOunded love APP
pealed to him powerfully. His resolu-
ton was severely shaken. Nothing
but the sailors ingraincd honor and
habitual self-disc;pline held him back
as he said:
"For heavens sake, Thankful, don't
tempt me that way from duty! Ilcave
you only because I must; but the time
will bc short All our arrangements
are for short voyage; expect INC back
by the next New Year. l shall hasten
every thing for your sake"
She went to sleepless bed that
night. In the morning her fathers
glass showed her the Chevalier far out
at sea. For many days she went about
heavy hearted. Her mother watched
and piticd her and her own heart bled
afresh.
But youth is the season Of hope and
love is its twin, and, as the months OF
that spring and summer went by. the
girl felt more and more as though she
were only enduring brief probation
to lifelong happiness. News had
reached her of the Chcvalier and her
beloved. First came letter from Rio,
full of love and promise; then an in
coming whalcr reported speaking the
Chevalier in the far South Atlantic,
and that all on board were well, and
then letter from Lima. All was we'll,
time was flying. the promised time for
the reunion was approaching.
There is rarely, yet sometimes, a
New England autumn when the mel
low Indian summer is prolonged from
November far into December, and the
year fades away in days Of vailed sum
shine; when nature seems in o dream
and winter is held back by some
strange spell. 1t was SO this year.
Down to the first day Of January there
was neither snow nor frost; silvcry
mist sat upon the sea; tho days were
like May days. but with softened,
tempered sun; the nights were balmy
and glorious. As Thankful and her
mother sat outside the cottage they
could see the lights from the town and
the bay. The sounds of laughter and
talking came up to them; every thing
seemed under spell.
So it was on that New Years Eve.
They sat there late talking of the dead
of the abscnt-hartlly daring to talk
of the future. The night was bright and
starlight; every thing was visible. yet
indistinct. At that place and time no
body had been abroad for an hour. All
were at home keeping New Years Eve.
Just then Thankful directed her moth
er's attention to figure advancing
slowly up the slope toward the cottage.
"Where?" asked Mrs. Benson. 81
don't see IL"
"Why, therer' said Thankful, with
outstretchcd finger. "It's man. He's
coming this way. He-he looks like
Jack"
She started up and advanced to meet
him. Mrs. Benson strained her eyes.
but could see nothing like q human
figure. She saw Thankful advance a
few PAGES, stretch out her arms as il to
embrace some one, and then fall sense
less to the ground.
When Mrs. Benson carried her in
and revived her, she started up and
cried for Jack.
my dear child, be calm!'' said the
mother. He is not here. He has no,
been here"
Eyes, yes!-he was! 1 saw him
almost touched him. He came clos
up to me-and then he dis appeared
and I could not see him."
The mother looked at her with grie
and awe.
..Dcar Thankful" she said with deeI
solemnity, "be STRONGEST you
burden on the Lord-and bear you
grief as l have borne mine. You hav
not seen John Sturdy; you have seel
his double. You will never see hin
again."
For the next year their lives went OF
| with that sense of chastened sorrow